Page 69 of Mulberry Hollow (Riverbend 2)

Chapter29

A wave of happiness washed over Avery. Everything had gone splendidly with Lucy this weekend. She was, hopefully, on the verge of some wonderful changes at the clinic and in her life—and Wes awaited her in the bedroom.

She dumped the paper plates into the kitchen trash and shoved the leftover pizza into the fridge. The popcorn was just starting to pop in the microwave, and Wes was picking out a movie on Netflix. She filled his water glass and grabbed a water bottle for herself.

Boots threaded between her bare legs, meowing, then she pranced back down the hall toward the bedroom. Her cat seemed to be enjoying Wes’s company also.

When the microwave stopped, she filled a mixing bowl with the popcorn and headed back to the bedroom. Wes stared at the TV screen, frowning thoughtfully at the choices. Stretched out on top of the covers, he didn’t seem like an incapacitated man. The lamplightcast a warm glow over the sharp angles of his face, over the curves of his muscled arms.

Boots jumped onto the bed and snuggled up beside him.

Smiling at the image, Avery set down the food and drinks, pulled out her phone, and snapped a photo.

At the flash of light, he turned to her. “What was that for?”

“You just looked kind of cute, staring so intently at the screen, Boots cuddled up next to you. Besides, everyone knows it’s not a celebration without pictures.”

“It’s also not a celebration without at least two people.”

He snapped a photo of her as she sat pretzel-style on the other side of the queen bed. “Hey, I wasn’t ready!” She set the popcorn bowl between them.

He checked the screen. “It’s blurry. Come closer, let’s do a selfie.”

She leaned in, Boots snuggled between them, and smiled at the image on the screen while he snapped a few pictures.

“Better,” he said a moment later. “Look at the expression on Boots’s face.”

Avery laughed at the image. “Send me one. Did you pick a movie?”

“How aboutSafe Haven?”

“You said no chick flicks.”

“I said no rom-coms. This one has a little suspense for me and a little romance for you. Have you seen it?”

“Of course I’ve seen it. But it’s been a long time and it’s really good. Let’s do it.”

As she started the film he dug into the popcorn. “What was that you said about insomnia? Why aren’t you sleeping?”

“I don’t know. Lately, when I go to bed I just lie awake forhours. It’s probably stress. I’m sure things will settle down once I get another doctor on board. I’ll have a little more balance in my life.”

“That would be good for you. I understand the compulsion to work though.”

“Are you a workaholic when you’re not hiking the AT?”

“I guess I could be accused of that. But it’s not... I’m not driven by a need to get rich or prove myself. Or even by altruistic reasons, like you.”

“What drives you then?”

He studied her for so long Avery wondered if he was going to answer. “I mentioned I had some debt hanging over my head when I went to Colombia. But it was actually my dad’s debt. He stole my identity before he went to prison and ran up some credit cards.”

The lawsuits Cooper had found on his record. Her heart broke for him. “Oh, Wes.”

“Yeah, he wasn’t exactly father of the year. But I’ve almost paid them off. I’ll always be a hard worker—I enjoy what I do. But I don’t think I’ll be so single-minded once I’m out of hock.”

“That’s a good thing. It’ll feel good to be out from under the debt.”

“You have no idea.”